Horn-socket for oil and gas wells.



E. E. SHAFFEH.

HORN SOCKET FOR OIL AND GAS WELLS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 15, 1915.

L M36,U1@n Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

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APPLICATION FILED FEB. I5, 1915- Patented Dec. 28, 1917.

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HORN-SOCKET FOR OIL AND GAS To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known-that I, ELMER E. SHAFFER, a

Tulsa, in the county of Tulsa and State of Oklahoma, have invented new and useful Improvements in Horn-Sockets for Oil and Gas Wells, of which the following is a specification;

This invention relates to a horn-socket or implement for lowering and raising the bits or tools of well-drilling outfits, the device being designed more particularly for lowering and raising the rotary bits or tools used in a well-drilling apparatus shown and described in another application for patent filed by me on the 15th day of February,

1915, Serial No. 8329. In said apparatus,

the casing itself is rotated and the toolsocket is automatically coupled thereto, so as to be rotated thereby,the casing thus acting practically as the stem of the rotary tool and doing away with the customary separate tool-stem. The use of such a stemless tool-socket requires a horn-socket by which the tool-socket may be lowered through the rotary casing to the point where it is coupled thereto and whichafter lower-- ing the tool socket becomes detached therefrom, so that the horn-socket may be raised and withdrawn from the casing with the usual cable and cable tools.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a simple and convenient hornsocket which fulfils this requirement and which may also be used for picking up and withdraw-ing the rotary tools.

A further object is the provision of a combination horn-socket which can be used with a cable and standard tools in such a manner ment can be readily changed from rotary to standard tools, or vice versa.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the horn-socket showing its dogs or pawls engaged with the shank of the tool socket preparatory to lowering it in the casing. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the horn-socket lowered to the position in which its pawls are swung out to their inoperative position, preparatory to raising the horn-socketto detach it from the tool-socket. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation at right angles to Figs. 1 and 2. Figs. 4 and 5 are cross sections on the correspondingly-numbered lines in Fig. 9. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of Specification of Letters Patent. Pmhgnhgfl Deg, 28 1915., Application filedl February 15, 1915. Serial at. 8.328. V

view, showing the horn-socket lowered over tlm headed shank of the tool-socket. Fig. 9 1s a simllar vlew, showing the pawls interlocked with said shank preparatory to pulling up the tool "socket.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 1 indicates a short stem or shank extendingupwardly" from and attached to the tool socket, not shown, and preferably having an approximately conical head or enlargement 2 forming an upper shoulder 3. At a suitable distance below this head the shank is enlarged in diameter to form a lower shoulder 4.

5 indicates the shell or body of the hornsocket which is preferably of cylindrical form and hollow throughout its length to receive the headed shank 1. To facilitate the passage of the body over this shank, its lower end is flared, as shown at 6. At its upper end the body has a hollow integral neck or tubular extension {into the upper end of which is screwed the solid screw stem 8 of a connection 9. This connection is provided with appropriate means for attaching it to a cable and cable tools for lowering or raising the horn socket and the attached rotary tool socket and bit. Preferably said connection has a tapering screw stem 10 of the proper size to fit the corresponding socket 10 of the customary drill stem of the standard tools, so that the horn socket may be readily substituted for the standard drilling bit, as hereinafter more fully described.

Carried by the body 5 are a number of pawls or catches 11 which are movable toward and from its axis and adapted to engage with the head of the shank 1 to couple the same to the horn-socket. In the preferred construction shown, the implement has two of such pawls which are arranged vertically in a lon itudinal sl'ot or mortise 12 of the body 5 and-pivoted thereto at their lower ends by transverse pins 13, so that their upper ends are" free to swing in or out to engage or clear the head of the shank 1. The outward movement of the pawls is limited by a fixed stop ring 14: encircling the the upper portions of the pawls are concave on their inner sides to conform to the cylindrical shank 1.

Located in a slot 16 above the pawls 11 are a pair of opposing shifting members or levers 17 adapted to be tripped by the'head of the shank 1, so as to swing the pawls 1nwardly under said head, preparatory to withdrawing the tool socket from the wellcasing. The slot 16, like the slot 12, extends from side to side of the body 5 and the shifting levers 17 are pivoted therein between their ends by transverse plus 18. Referring to Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the upper arms of these levers are provided in their opposing sides with convex or cam-faces 19 adapted to be engaged by the head of the shank 1, while their lower arms are arranged on the outer sides of the pawls l1 and overlap then free upper ends, so that when said upper arms are tripped by the headed shank, their lower arms swing inwardly and throw the pawls under the head of the shank, as shown in Fig. 9.

The upper portions of the levers 17 are housed by a hood or collar 20 which is verticallv movable on the neck-7 of the body 5 and secured in its normalposition by a set screw 21 or other suitable means. For a purpose hereinafter described, these levers are reversibly mounted in the body 0, be ng rotatable on their pivots to the operative position shown in Figs. 7, and 9 or to the inoperative position shownm Figs. 1 and 2.

'.To permit of such reversal the hood 20 is raised to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and after reversing the levers, 18 returned to its normal position.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the lower end of theneck 7 extends into the slot 16 of the body to form a locking groove or recess .20 between the neck and the surrounding collar 20 which recess receives the upper arms of the shifting levers when reversed to the inoperative position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, thereby locking the levers in a position in which their upper arms are out of reach of the headed shank 1 and their lower arms clear the upper ends of the pawls 11. The arms of each lever areof the proper relative lengths for this purpose. In the normal operative position of the levers shown in Figs. 7 and S, the hood 20 serves as a stop which limits the outward movement of their lower arms.

The operation of the horn-socket is as follows: To lower the tool-socket through the casing, the levers 17 are not required and they are therefore reversed to the inoperative position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in the manner hereinbefore described. In this condition, the horn-socket is attached to the drill-stem-socket 10 and passed over the shank l and the pawls 11 are swung by hand under the head of the shank, as shown in Fig. 1, the pawls being held in this position by theweight of the suspended shank and the tool-socket. The descending toolsocket on reaching the proper point in the rotatable well-casing is automatically arrested and coupled thereto, as hereinbefore described, while the horn-socket by its weight continues to descend on the arrested shank 1 until it is stopped by the screw stem 8 striking the head of the shank. By this independent movement of the horn-socket the pawls 11 recede from said head and ride over the shoulder or enlargement 4 of the shank, whereby they are swung out to the inoperative position shown in Fig. 2, where they remain by gravity. The horn-socket is now elevated by the cable-and cabletools and stripped from the shank, the spread pawls clearing the head of the shank and permitting it to pass them without restraint. The rotary work may then proceed.

When the horn-socket is to be used to withdraw the rotary tool-socket and bit from the well-casing, theshifting levers 17 are reversed to the operative position shown 1n Figs. 7 and 8, in which their short upper arms terminate below the neck 7 so as not to be blocked by the same. Upon lowering the horn-socket through the casing in this condition by the cable and cable tools, it passes over the shank 1 until it is arrested by the screw stem 8 striking the head of the shank, as shown in Fig. 8. During this downward movement, the upper arms of the levers 17 are tripped outward by the head of the shank, causing the levers to swing the pawls 11 inward, but the pawls and levers are immediately returned to the position shown in Fig. 8 by the shoulder 4 of the shank which again spreads the pawls and the lower arms of the levers, this initial movement of these parts being therefore an idle one. Upon now pulling up the horn-socket the upper arms of the levers again trip over the head of the shank and are swung outward, throwing the pawls against the shank and under its head, as shown in Fig. 9, thereby interlocking the shank with the horn-socket and compelling it and the bit to ascend therewith. Another tool can then be substituted and lowered through the casing by again reversing the shifting levers to their inoperative position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

By reversing the levers from one position to the other, the same horn-socket can be used for raising as well as lowering the rotary tools and bit by means of a cable and standard tools; and as the formations change, rotary tools can be readily substituted for standard tools, and vice versa.

It will be understood from the foregoing that rotary tools are lowered and raised through the rotary casing by the usual cable and cable tools and that the change from one outfit or class of work to the other is quickly made by screwing either the hornsocket or the drilling-bit of the standard tools into the socket 10 of the drill stem. In using rotary drilling tools, after lowering them and pullin out the standard tools, the latter are lett hanging in the derrick until such time as it is desired to change the rotary ,bit, or to change from rotary to standard'tools. To change back to standard tools, the latter are returned into the hole with the horn-socket attached thereto, to pick up the rotary tools and pull them out. After doing this and standing the withdrawn rotary tools in one corner of the derrick, the horn-socket is uncoupled from them and detached from the'standard drill stem and the standard drilling bit is substituted for the horn-socket as before described, converting the apparatus into the standardoutfit.

I claim as my invention: 1. A horn-socket comprising a hollow body adapted to receive the shank of a toolsocket, catches mounted on said body and adapted to engage said shank, and shifting members for the catches mounted on the body above the same, said shifting menibers being arranged to .be tripped by said shank.

2. A horn-socket comprising a hollow body adapted to receive the shank of a toolsocket, pawls pivoted at their lower ends to said body to swing toward and from its aXis, and shifting levers for said pawls pivoted to the body above the pawls and arranged to be tripped by said shank.

3. A horn-socket comprising a hollow body adapted to receive the shank of a tool socket, pawls arranged lengthwise of the body and pivoted thereto at their lower ends, and shifting levers arranged lengthwise of the body above said pawls, the lower arms of the levers overlapping the outer sides of the pawls and their upper arms be ing arranged to be tripped by said shank.

4. A horn-socket, comprising a hollow body adapted to receive the shank of a tool socket, pawls arranged lengthwise of the body and pivoted thereto at their lower ends, a stop ring surrounding the body opposite the free upper ends of said pawls, and shifting members for said pawls mounted on the body above the pawls.

5. A horn-socket comprising a hollow body adapted to receive the shank of a tool socket, catches mounted on said body and adapted to engage said shank and shifting members for said catches arranged to be tripped by said shank, said shifting members being reversibly mounted on the body and constructed to actuate the catches in one position of the members and to clear them in another position of the members.

6. A horn-socket comprising a hollow body adapted to receive the shank of a tool socket, catches mounted on said body and adapted to engage said shank, and shifting levers for said catches reversibly pivoted to said body above the catches, said levers being constructed to actuate the catches in one position of the levers and to clear them in the other position of the levers.

7.'A horn-socket comprising a hollow body adapted to receive the shank'of a tool socket, catches mounted on said body and adapted to engage said shank, shifting members for said catches reversibly mounted on the body and constructed to actuate the catches in one position of the members and to clear them in the other position of the members, and a retractable hood applied to the body and normally overlapping said shifting members.

8. A horn-socket comprising a hollow body adapted to receive the shank of a tool socket, catches mounted on said body and adapted to engage said shank, shifting levers for said catches arranged same and pivoted to the body between their ends, said levers being reversible and constructed to actuate the catches in one position and to clear them in the other position, and a hood for said levers movable lengthwise on said body.

9. A horn-socket comprising a hollow body adapted to receive the shank of a toolsocket, catches mounted on said body and adapted to engage said shank, shifting levers for said catches arranged lengthwise of the body, said levers being reversibly mounted, and a retractable hood applied to the body and overlapping said levers, there being a locking recess between the body and the upper portion of said hood which re ceives the upper ends of said levers.

10. A horn-socket comprising a hollow body provided with a slot extending from side to side thereof and a neck extending into said slot, a hood surrounding the slotted portion of the body and separated from the lower portion of said 'neck by a locking re cess, catches mounted in the lower portion of the body and adapted to engage the shank of a tool-socket, and shifting levers for said catches reversibly pivoted in said slot, the arms of said levers being of different lengths and their long arms being adapted to engage said locking recess.

Witness my hand this 6th day of January, 1915.

ELMER E.

above the 

